MOUNT BEAUTY WALKS

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Moncrieff’s Track Loop

This 8.2km route leads up from the East Kiewa River towards the West Peak of Mount Bogong, and then swings around to the south to meet up with the East Kiewa once more. It provides great views of the Kiewa Valley, lots of tall timber, and a good work-out, including an ascent/descent of about 400m.

Vegetation is also very interesting, with many species of flowering plants in the springtime, as well as two different seres on the north and south facing slopes.

The walk is rated as AWTGS-4, with formal walking shoes/boots, a set of trekking poles, and the Spatial Vision Map Bogong Alpine Area being essential.

Due to a steep descent, this route is not recommended in moist conditions.

The adventure starts from Rock Pool Road, with access by taking Damms Road from the northern side of the township, and then swinging right onto Rockpool Road.

Starting out from the car parking area at the end of Rock Pool Road, the first objective is to cross over the East Kiewa River. There is no bridge here, just a vehicular ford (that you need to cross twice), and you may need to have a spare pair of socks in your backpack.

If you have a reasonably high ground clearance 4wd, it is possible to cross the river, and park on the left side of the track. However, there is only enough room for two vehicles on the other side.

Once over the river, take Moncrieff’s Gap Track, and ignore the track going off to the right (this is the return part of the walk),

The track now makes a steady climb for about 2.5km to an un-signposted intersection to the left. Ignore this, and continue in a south-easterly direction until you arrive at another un-signposted intersection (3.85km : GPS 36/44/02.9 147/12/51.2 : 753m), where you need to turn right.

This leads steeply downhill to a t-junction (6.3km) where a right turn is required, taking the East Kiewa Fire Trail.

From here the route basically follows the valley of the East Kiewa, and about three kilometres later meets up with the initial junction mentioned above. Keeping left here, the start is soon in sight.

Whilst on this last section, there are nice bubbling sounds coming up from the river, some beautiful springtime wattle groves, and more views of the Kiewa Valley.

Overall time spent on the walk will have been about three hours.

COPYRIGHT © 1995-2020, Chris McLaughlin.